Help with Opening PDF Files

Some of the resources on Education Place are PDF (Portable Document Format) which offer higher-quality printouts rather than standard HTML pages. To open these files, you will need Adobe Reader software on Macintosh OS 8/9 or Windows systems. Additionally, you can open PDF files with Preview on Macintosh OS X. If you do not have Adobe Reader already installed on your computer, you can download the installer and instructions free from the Adobe Web site.

Using Adobe Reader with Internet Explorer or Netscape on Windows

To download and install Adobe Reader, click the “Get Adobe Reader” button and follow the instructions on the Adobe Reader’s download site. To learn more about configuring Internet Explorer to display PDF files with Adobe Reader, please refer to Adobe Reader Support.

If you are using older versions of both Adobe Reader and Internet Explorer on Windows and you have experienced some difficulty displaying PDF files in your browser, please refer to Microsoft Support Site or get help from Adobe Reader Support.

Using Adobe Reader 6.0 with Internet Explorer and Netscape on Macintosh OS X

PowerPC G3 process or higher

Mac OS X (version 10.2.2 to 10.3.5)

128MB RAM

Internet Explorer 5.2.3 or Netscape 7.1

Click the “Get Adobe Reader” button to download Reader. A Reader disc image will be downloaded to your hard drive. The disc image contains an Adobe Reader 6.0 folder. Copy or drag the Adobe Reader 6.0 folder to your hard drive. Then locate a PDF document and select Get Info in the File menu. In the Info window, click the tab: Open with. Use the dropdown menu to select Adobe Reader 6.0. Also click on: Change All… to allow Adobe Reader to open all PDF documents.

Using Preview with Safari on Macintosh OS X

PowerPC G3 process or higher

Mac OS X (version 10.3)

128MB RAM

Safari 1.2

Preview is an application on OS X that allows you to view PDF files. Preview comes with OS X so you don not need to download it. When you click a PDF file, it will be downloaded to your computer and Preview will launch automatically and display the PDF file. If a PDF does not display in Preview, you can locate a PDF document and select Get Info in the File menu. In the Info window, click on tab: Open with. Use the drop-down menu to select Preview. Also click on: Change All… to allow Preview to open all PDF documents.